Chelsea and Man Utd dealt huge blow with world-class ‘keeper set to stay at Serie A club

The next two weeks will prove pivotal in determining whether or not Chelsea’s season has been a successful one, with the Blues facing Real Madrid over two legs in the Champions League semi-finals, before the FA Cup final against Leicester City at Wembley. 

Winning either competition, providing they also qualify for next season’s Champions League, would constitute a successful season and a strong start to Thomas Tuchel’s reign at Stamford Bridge.

Fail to win either trophy, and fail to finish in the top four, though, and there could be a very different feel around Stamford Bridge.

Failure to play in next year’s Champions League could be disastrous for the club in the transfer market, and could also spell the end of the line in SW6 for some of the club’s current players.

According to talkSPORT, however, they have already been handed a big blow ahead of the upcoming transfer window this summer.

The outlet is reporting that Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had been heavily linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks, is now set to stay at current side AC Milan.

According to the report, the Italy international has been persuaded to extend his stay in Milan by the exciting project that is being planned and brought to fruition at the club.

Donnarumma is the second youngest goalkeeper in the history of Italian football.

Donnarumma had reportedly refused to sign a contract extension and was determined to leave the club in the summer, however it now appears that the 22-year-old could be set to stay in Italy.

Both Premier League sides had been linked to the player, who has made over 200 appearances for the club since making his debut aged 16.

It is understood that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is on the lookout for a new goalkeeper with David De Gea’s future uncertain, while Edouard Mendy is not seen as a long term solution to the goalkeeping crisis that has hindered Chelsea for the past 18 months.

It was previously rumoured that Milan had made Donnarumma an offer of around £6m annually to stay with the Rossonerri, but the player refused to sign meaning the prospect of signing a world class ‘keeper on a free transfer had gained the attention of several clubs.

Milan are on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2014, and Donnarumma could be tempted to stay by the prospect of the club returning to their former glory.